Vulcanizing-press.



J. K. WILLIAMS.

VULGANIZING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED OGTJT, 1912. 1,100,934. Patented June 23, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. K. WILLIAMS. VULANIZING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED 001217, 1912.

1,100,934. Patented June 23, 1914 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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JOHN K. WILLIAMS, OF AKRON,

OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE WILLIAMS FOUNDRY AND MACHINE COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

VULCANIZINGjPRESS.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN K. VVILLLAMS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Akron, county of Summit, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Vulcanizing-Presses, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions The device which forms the subject matter of the present invention is a vulcanizer press for curing tires or other rubber products, and is particularly designed to provide a press in which the bearing members for the hydraulic ram are readily accessible from the outside Without the necessity for completely taking down the press.

In the usual type of vulcanizer press in common use there is a vulcanizing chamber consisting of a tubular shell in which the tires are placed and provided with an aperture at its bottom, through which the hydraulically operated piston with its ram head is reciprocated. The piston extends beneath the vulcanizing chamber into the hydraulic cylinder, and in former machines the only bearing for the piston was at 'the juncture of the vulcanizing chamber and hydraulic cylinder. As the distance through which the piston was reciprocated was considerable there was a certain side movement of the ram head causing the bearings to wear very rapidly, and consequently to leak steam into the hydraulic cylinder' when no pressure was in the same and to leak water under pressure into the vulcanizing chamber, thus condensing the steam during the curing operation and giving a very low efficiency.

The present invention has been particularly designed with reference to the provision of spaced and wide bearing surfaces for the piston, such bearing surfaces being readily accessible without the necessity for taking down the press or going into the vulcanizlng chamber.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such dis- Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 17, 1912.

Patented June 23, 1914. Serial No. 726,229.

closed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings: Figure 1 is a central vertical section of my improved vulcanizer press; Fig. 2 isa perspective view of the intermediate member or open frame which connects the hydraulic cylinder and the vulcanizing chamber; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3 in Fig. 1,' Fig. 4 is a central vertical section similar to that of Fig. l but showing merely a modification of one detail of construction; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a detail of constructlon.

In Fig. l the main elements of the press may be seen. It consists of a body member 1 which is of open tubular form and is provided at its top with a flanged rin 2 adapted to receive the cover 3 and at its bottom with a centrally apertured casting 4. The cover is provided with lugs 5 adapted to engage beneath lugs 6 on the ring 2, a construction vvhich is in common use in this type of press, and is no part of the present invention. A hydraulic cylinder 7 is disposed in alinement with the central aperture in the body member 1, and between the vulcanizing chamber and the cylinder there is disposed an intermediate member or open frame 8. The floor line of the building in which the press is set up is indicated by the reference numeral 9, from which it will be seen that the greater portion of the press is beneath the Hoor line, the intermediate member or frame being mounted upon concrete piers 10 and the cylinder being disposed in an open well 11 faced with concrete or similar material. The method of attachment of the body. member or vulcanizing chamber 1 to the frame 8 can also be seen in Fig. 1, such attachment being preferably by means of bolts 13 which engage laterally extending flanges 14 and 15 on the body member and the frame respectively. The flange 15 is provided with a short projecting shoulder 16 to take up the lateral thrust and strain between the vulcanizing chamber and the frame. The cylinder 7 1s provided at its top with a laterally extending iange 17 which engages and rests upon the inwardly extending lateral flange 18 on the bottom of the frame. The weight of the cylinder is of course suiiicient to retain it in secure engagement with the frame, and of course when the piston is being operated the full effect of the pressure within the cylinder acts downwardly, to retain this cylinder in such engagement, as well as upwardly on the piston.

Any suitable arrangement for admitting to and exhausting from the vulcanizing chamber the steam and water used to cure and cool the tires may be used, and I pro` vide a steam pipe Q() connecting with the vulcanizing chamber and a water pipe 21 connectiner to the lower portion of the same. Any suit-.ilale means, such as relief valves or cocks, may be disposed at different points about the cylinder for the purpose of further` controlling such fluids. A pipe 252 passes through an aperture in one of the concrete piers and connects with the cylinder 7 Jfor the purpose of supplying water under pressure` or any other suitable pressure fluid. to raise the piston Q3. Such piston of course extends through the intermediate frame and into the vulcanizing chamber where it is provided with a ram head Q4 which clamps the tires between it and the cover 3. The bottom casting 4 of the vulcanizing chamber is provided with a groove 25 concentric with the piston 23 but having its wall .spaced therefrom, into which there is fitted a wedge-shaped packing strip 27. A gland r sleeve 28 is disposed about the piston and is provided with beveled ends which are adapted to enter the groove 25 and to contact the packing strip. These bearing sleeves are provided with lateral flanges which are engaged by bolts 30 which enter the bottom member 4 of the vulcanizing chamber. By adjusting these bolts any desired pressure can he secured against the `iacking strip E27, and the wedge shape of the latter will cause the same to beforced against the piston and to act as a stuffingbox to prevent the introduction into the vulcanizing chamber of an lubricant which may be on the piston. il, or other lubricant, would of course exert a considerable harmful effect upon the rubber if it should pass into the vulcanizing chamber.V The upper end of cylinder 7 is grooved in a manner similar to the bottom 4 of the vulcanizing chamber and another and slightly larger packing strip 31 is inserted. in such groove and a second flanged gland member 32 is provided to actagainst such packin strip and to provide a secure packing for t e piston.

The frame 8 is provided, as shown in Fig. 2, with a plurality of laterally opening manholes 33, through which access may be had to the two gland members for the purpose of adjusting the saine, or, if necessary, disengaging them from the vuleanizing chamber and cylinder for the purpose of inserting new packing strips. It will be noticed that access may be had to'these glands without taking down any part of the press. It will be Jfurther noticed that the two glands are spaced a considerable distance from each other, thus insuring a steady and accurate reciprocation of the piston in a straight line, and preventing the smallest amount of side play. The glands are intended primarily Jfor preventing the escape of steam and Water from the vulcanizer and cylinder, respectively, but it will be readily seen that they also form bearing members, supplementing the main bearing 35 in the cylinder 7 and the bearing 36 in the bottom of the body member 1. The glands and the packing strips form a common type of stuting box. T his is accomplished by the interposition of the single rigid member or frame 8 and is done without the use of any insecure tie rods or outside supports such as have been tried out for this purpose but found unsatisfactory. Means for lubricating the piston between the bearing members may be of any suitable type, but I have provided a lubricating ring 34 which is disposed upon the top of the bearing and may be filled from above. The construction of this ring is clearly shown in Fig. 5 and will be packed with oil containing waste 37, or similar material.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent. of such stated means be employed. f

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim asv my invention 1. In a `vulcanizer press, the combination with a hollow, vertically disposed stationary body member, forming a vulcanizing chamber, and being provided with a central aperture in its bottom, and a fluid-pressure operated ram including a cylinder and a piston reciprocable therein, said cylinder being mounted below said body member in sleeve 3Q alinement therewith but spaced therefrom,

and said piston extending through such aperture in said body member into said cylinder; of a hollow, rigid, unitary and laterally open frame, said frame being inter posed between said body member and said cylinder and lixedly attached to the bottom of said body member,v and encircling said piston but not contacting the same; and two stutii'ng boxes for said plston` one being attached to the bottom of said body member, and the other being attached tothe top of sald cylinder, said frame providing access to said stuiing boxes.

Q. In a vulcan-izer press, the combination with a hollow, vertically disposed stationary body member, forming a vulcanizing chamber, and being provided with a central aperture in its bottom, and a fluidpressure operated ram includinsur a cylinder and a piston reciprocable therein, said cylinder being mounted below said body member in alinement therewith but spaced therefrom, and said piston extending through such aperture in said body member into said cylinder; of a hollow, rigid, unitary and laterally open frame, said frame being interposed between said body member and said cylinder and fixedly attached to the bottom of said body member, and encircling said piston but not contacting the same; said body member and said cylinder being each provided with a'bearing for said piston; and two stufing boxes for said piston, one being removably attached to the bottom of said body, and the other being attached to the top of said cylinder, said frame providing access to said stuffing boxes.

3. In a vulcanizer press, the combination with a hollow, vertically disposed stationary body member, forming a vulcanizing chamber, and being provided with a central aperture in its bottom, and a fluid-pressure operated ram including a cylinder and a piston reciprocable therein, said cylinder being mounted below said body member in alinement therewith but spaced therefrom, and being rovided with an external laterally exten ing tiange, and said piston extending through such aperture in said body member into said cylinder, said body member and said cylinder each being provided with a bearing for said iston; of a hollow, rigid, unitary and laterally open frame, said frame being interposed between said body member and said cylinder and fixedl'y attached to the bottom of said body member, such Harige on said cylinder engaging said frame, the latter encircling said iston but not contacting the same; We ge-shaped packing strips disposed on said piston, one of said strips being in contact with the bottom of said body member, and the other of said strips being in contact with the top of said cylinder; and bearing glands for said piston, one of said glands being removably attached to said body member thereby securely retaining the adjacent packing strip against said body member and said piston, the other of said glands being removably attached to such flange on said cylinder, in engaging contact with the adjacent packing strip, said frame providing access to said glands and packing strips.

4. In a viilcanizer press, the combination with a hollow, vertically disposed stationary body member, forming a vulcanizing chamber, and being provided with a central aperture in its bottom, and a Huid-pressure operated ram including a cylinder and' a piston reciprocable therein, said cylinder being mounted below said body member in alinement therewith but spaced therefrom,

and being provided with an external laterally extending liange, and said piston extending through such aperture in said body member into said cylinder; of a hollow, rigid, unitary and laterally open frame, said frame being interposed between said body member and said cylinder and fixedly attached to the bottom of said body member, such flange on said cylinder engaging said frame, the latter encircling said iston but not contacting the same; said bodiy member and cylinder being formed at their bottom and top respectively, with a grooved portion encircling said piston and concentric therewith but spaced therefrom, said body member and said cylinder each being provided with a bearing for said piston; wedgeshaped packing strips disposed on said piston, one of said strips being in such groove in said body member, and the other in such groove in said cylinder, said strips not tilling such grooves; and tianged bearing glands for said piston, one ot said glands being disposed in such groove in said body member against said packing strip, the other being similarly disposed in such groove in said cylinder, such flanges on said glands being removabl attached to said body member and cylin er respectively, said frame providing access to said glands and said packing strips.

In a vulcanizer press, the combination with a hollow, vertically disposed body member, forming a vulcanizing chamber, and being provided with a central aperture in its bottom, and a fluid-pressure operated ram includin a cylinder and'a piston reciprocable terein, said cylinder being mounted below said body member in aline- `ment therewith but spaced therefrom, and

4being provided with an external laterally extending flange, and said piston extending through such aperture in said body member into said cylinder; of a hollow, rigid, laterally open frame, said frame being interposed between said body member and said cylinder and fixedly attached to said body member, such Harige on said cylinder engaging said frame, the latter encircling said piston but not contacting the same; said body member and cylinder being formed at their bottom and top respectively, with a grooved portion encircling said piston and concentric therewith but spaced therefrom, said body member and said cylinder each being provided with a bearing for said piston; wedge-shaped packing strips disposed on said piston, one of said strips being in such groove in said body member, and the other in such groove in said cylinder, said strips not filling such grooves; and Hangcd bearing glands for said piston, one of said glands being disposed in such groove in said body member against said packing strip, the other being Similarly disposed on such groove in said cylinder, such flanges on said glands being removably attached to said body member and cylinder respectively, said frame providing access to said glands and said packing strips through such man-hole; and a lubricant-containing member disposed about said piston between said bearing glands.

6. In a vulcanizer press, the combination wit-h a hollow, vertically disposed body member, forming a vulcanizing chamber, and being provided with a central aperture in its bottom, and a Huid-pressure operated ram including a cylinder and a piston reciprocable therein, said cylinder being mounted below said body member in alinement therewith but spaced therefrom, and being provided with an external laterally extending fiange, and said piston extending through such aperture in said body member into said cylinder; of a hollow, rigid, laterally open frame, said frame being interposed between said body member and said cylinder and fixedly attached to said body member, such Harige on said cylinder engaging said frame, the latter encircling said piston but not contacting the same; said body member and cylinder being formed at their bottom and top respectively, with a grooved portion encircling said piston and concentric therewith but spaced therefrom, said body member and said cylinder each being provided with a bearing for said piston; Wedgeshaped packing strips disposed on said piston, one of said strips being insuch4 groove in said body member, and the other in such groove in said cylinder, said strips not lilling such grooves; and fianged bearing glands for said piston, one of said glands being disposed in such roove in said body member against said pac ing strip, the other being similarly disposed on such roove in said cylinder, such anges on said glands being removabl attached to said body mem ber and cylin er respectively, said frame providing access to said glands and said packing strips through such man-hole; and a lubricant-containing ring disposed about said piston between said bearing glands, said ring being provided with a recess adjacent to said piston for holding lubricant, such recess extending to the top of said ring.

Signed by me this 14th day of October,

JOHN K. WILLIAMS. Attested by- WM. FRANZ, L. C. BOWERS.

lar-hohem DISCLAIMER 1,100,934.-John K. Williams, Akron, Ohio. VULCANIZING PRESS. Patent .dated June 23, 1914. Disclaimerl filed September 25, 1929, by NationaLErie Company, assignee by mesne assignments. Hereby disclaims: l. The subject matter of olairnrl of said Letters Patent, except where the cylinder is supported from the frame, and is insertible and removable through the frame while the frame'is in position. I

2. The subject matter of claim 2 of said Letters Patent, except where the cylinder and the body member are su ported by the frame but detachable from the frame.

3. The subject matter o claim 3 of seid Letters Patent exce t where the body member and the cylinder are sup orted by the frame, the cyln er by engagement of its flange with the frame, an where the cylinder is receivable and removable through the frame Whil the frame is in position."

[Ojc'ial Gazette Oclobcr 15, 1929.] 

